NEWS

In many cities across the Global South, waste pickers play a vital but often invisible role in managing urban waste. These individuals collect, sort, and sell discarded materials, contributing significantly to recycling and reducing landfill volumes. Despite their important environmental and economic contributions, waste pickers operate in informal and insecure conditions, lacking formal recognition or support.

On a normal day, there are over 200 waste pickers at the municipal landfill in Grahamstown. They come from the poorest households in the...

By PHILIP NYALUNGU AKA MZAMANI I came to Grahamstown late last year (2017) to study Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University. I...